Derek White Bio
Derek White (born December 9, 1970) is a Canadian professional stock car racing driver. He last competed part-time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, driving the No. 2 Ford F-150 for Reaume Brothers Racing and the No. 69 Ford F-150 for MBM Motorsports, and part-time in the ARCA Menards Series, driving the No. 31 Toyota Camry for Rise Motorsports. Over the course of his career, White has also competed in the NASCAR Xfinity Series and the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, building a reputation as a versatile driver who has competed at several levels of the sport.
Born in Kahnawake, Quebec, Canada, White is of Mohawk descent and is recognized as the first Native American to attempt a race in the NASCAR Cup Series. In addition to his driving duties, he has also been involved in team ownership, co-founding MBM Motorsports. His career has been marked by perseverance through both on-track challenges and legal issues outside the racing world.
Early Life and Background
Derek White was born on December 9, 1970, in Kahnawake, Quebec, Canada, a Mohawk community located near Montreal. He is of Mohawk descent and grew up in this culturally rich area, which has long been associated with motorsports and skilled trades.
Before entering the world of stock car racing, White spent thirty years drag racing in Canada. His extensive experience in drag racing gave him a strong foundation in vehicle control, mechanical understanding, and competitive driving. This long tenure in the sport helped prepare him for the transition to oval and road course racing, which he made in 2009.
His decision to switch to stock car racing came relatively late in his driving career, bringing with it a wealth of experience from three decades of high-performance driving. White’s background in drag racing allowed him to develop the focus and technical insight needed to adapt quickly to the demands of stock car competition.
Path to NASCAR
White made his entrance into NASCAR-affiliated competition in 2009, running five races in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series. His series debut came at Autodrome Saint-Eustache, where he recorded a best finish of eleventh. The following season, he ran eleven of thirteen races and earned a top-ten finish at Delaware Speedway during the season opener. At the end of 2010, his strong first full season was recognized when he was named the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Rookie of the Year.
That same year, he made his NASCAR Camping World Truck Series debut at Martinsville Speedway, driving for team owner Mario Gosselin. White started 34th and finished 23rd, gaining valuable experience on one of NASCAR’s most demanding short tracks. He continued to compete in the Canadian Tire Series in subsequent years while also exploring opportunities in the United States.
In 2014, White made a start in the American Canadian Tour, competing in the season-ending race at Airborne Speedway, where he finished 22nd after starting 33rd. Around the same time, he co-founded Motorsports Business Management with driver Carl Long, expanding his role within the sport from driver to team owner.
Derek White Career
Early Career (2009-2011)
White’s early stock car racing career was centered in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, where he quickly established himself as a promising rookie. After running a partial schedule in 2009, he returned for a near-full season in 2010 and finished with a top-ten result at Delaware Speedway. His performance throughout the year was enough to earn him the Canadian Tire Series Rookie of the Year award.
During this period, White also made his first appearance in a NASCAR national series event, debuting in the Camping World Truck Series at Martinsville Speedway in 2009. Driving for Mario Gosselin, he completed the race and gained his first taste of competition at the national level of stock car racing in the United States.
NASCAR Xfinity Series (2012-2015)
White made his NASCAR Nationwide Series debut in 2012 at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, where he was hired by SR² Motorsports as a road course ringer. Driving the No. 24, he finished a career-high eighteenth in the race, demonstrating his adaptability on road courses. The following year, he returned to competition in the renamed Xfinity Series and continued to build experience at the national level.
Before the 2014 Drive to Stop Diabetes 300 at Bristol Motor Speedway, White partnered with Carl Long to form Motorsports Business Management, commonly known as MBM Motorsports. The team made its racing debut at the Bristol event with Matt Carter driving the No. 13. Throughout the rest of 2014, White fielded rides for himself, Long, and Mike Wallace. Over six more races, the team failed to qualify four times and did not finish any of the six races they did qualify.
In 2015, White and Long were joined by team owners Rick Ware and Curtis Key as partners, and the team eventually expanded to add the No. 40 team. The partnership gave MBM Motorsports greater resources to compete in the Xfinity Series. However, White was penalized 15 driver and owner points before the Winn-Dixie 300 at Talladega Superspeedway for an unsecured ballast, adding to the team’s growing pains.
NASCAR Cup Series Debut (2015)
On July 13, 2015, White announced that he would make his Sprint Cup Series debut at the 5-hour Energy 301 at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, driving for Circle Sport. With this entry, he became the first Native American to attempt a Cup Series race in NASCAR history. After qualifying 42nd, he finished the race in 39th position, eleven laps down. Although the result was modest, the appearance was a historic milestone in the sport.
Reaume Brothers Racing and MBM Motorsports Era (2025-Present)
In 2025, it was revealed that White would return to NASCAR, this time in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at North Wilkesboro Speedway, driving the No. 2 Ford for Reaume Brothers Racing. After starting 26th due to qualifying being cancelled because of inclement weather, he finished 33rd after failing to maintain minimum speed shortly after the halfway point of the race. The return marked his first national series start in several years.
A few weeks later, it was announced that White would make his debut in the ARCA Menards Series at Michigan International Speedway, driving the No. 31 Toyota for Rise Motorsports. He also drove the No. 69 MBM Motorsports Ford in the race at Watkins Glen, where he obtained his first top-twenty finish, placing nineteenth. These appearances demonstrated his continued commitment to racing and his willingness to compete across multiple series and teams.
Driving Style and Strengths
White’s background in drag racing has given him a strong sense of vehicle control and a calm approach under pressure. His experience as a road course ringer at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve showed his ability to adapt to different track types, and his willingness to take on a variety of racing opportunities reflects a versatile skill set. As both a driver and team owner, he has developed a well-rounded understanding of race strategy and team operations.
Notable Races and Milestones
One of the most significant milestones of White’s career came in 2015 when he became the first Native American to attempt a NASCAR Cup Series race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. His debut in the Camping World Truck Series at Martinsville in 2009 and his top-twenty finish at Watkins Glen in 2025 also stand out as key moments in his career.
Derek White Career Wins
Derek White’s career has not been defined by race victories but rather by milestones, historic firsts, and longevity across multiple racing series. His most notable achievement is the 2010 NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Rookie of the Year award, which recognized his successful first full season in stock car competition.
NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Highlights
White ran a partial schedule in the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series in 2009 before competing in eleven of thirteen races the following year. His best finish of eleventh came in his series debut at Autodrome Saint-Eustache, and he recorded a top ten at Delaware Speedway during the 2010 season opener. At year’s end, he was awarded Rookie of the Year honors.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside of his Canadian Tire Series efforts, White has posted several career-best finishes in NASCAR national series competition, including a career-high eighteenth at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in 2012 and a nineteenth-place finish at Watkins Glen in 2025. While victories have eluded him, his consistent presence across multiple series has earned him respect within the NASCAR community.
Derek White Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Derek White was born and raised in Kahnawake, Quebec, a Mohawk community near Montreal. He is of Mohawk descent, and his heritage has been a defining part of his public identity. He is recognized as the first Native American to attempt a NASCAR Cup Series race, a milestone that reflects both his personal achievement and the broader representation of Indigenous people in motorsports.
Personal Life
White’s personal life has been shaped by his Mohawk heritage and his deep connection to his community. Beyond racing, he has been involved in business ventures, including the co-founding of MBM Motorsports with Carl Long. In March 2016, White was arrested and charged with smuggling tobacco from the United States into Canada. He was suspended indefinitely by NASCAR a few days later. After years of legal proceedings, his convictions were overturned on November 1, 2023, following an appeal based on constitutional arguments related to Mohawk treaty rights, and he was eventually reinstated by NASCAR.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Derek White’s return to NASCAR national series competition after several years away from the track. His first appearance came in the NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series at North Wilkesboro Speedway, where he drove the No. 2 Ford F-150 for Reaume Brothers Racing. After qualifying was cancelled due to weather, he started 26th but was forced to retire early after failing to maintain minimum speed, finishing 33rd.
Later in the season, White expanded his schedule to include the ARCA Menards Series, debuting at Michigan International Speedway with Rise Motorsports in the No. 31 Toyota. He continued to drive for MBM Motorsports, the team he co-founded, in the No. 69 Ford at Watkins Glen, where he earned his first top-twenty finish of the year, placing nineteenth. These efforts showed that he remained competitive and committed to racing at the national level.
Throughout the 2025 season, White balanced driving duties across multiple teams and series, demonstrating his versatility and continued passion for the sport. Although he did not post a race win, his return to competition and his top-twenty result at Watkins Glen marked a positive chapter in his long racing career. His future in NASCAR appears to remain open, with potential opportunities across both the Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series.
